VIDAS® NT-proBNP2 is an automated quantitative test for the determination of the N-terminal fragment of brain-type natriuretic peptide in human serum or plasma using the ELFA (Enzyme-Linked Fluorescent Assay) technique. Early diagnosis of heart failure is key to improve patient outcome. Using NT-proBNP2 can help clinicians optimize management of patients with dyspnea in the emergency room. This has shown to result in significant cost savings for healthcare structures due to shorter stays in the emergency department and reduced patient re-hospitalization(1).

A proven marker for Heart Failure

International guidelines recommend the use of B-type natriuretic peptide testing in the diagnostic workup of Heart Failure (HF) in both acute and non-acute patient presentation(2).

In the emergency department (ED), NT-proBNP is particularly useful for the triage of patients with acute dyspnea and suspected acute HF. It is highly sensitive and specific for exclusion (single rule-out cut-off value of 300 pg/mL) or confirmation of acute HF (age-adjusted rule-in cut-off values) (3).

*The area between the rule-out (<300pg/mL) and the rule-in (age-ajusted) cut-off values is designated as the "gray zone".

NT-proBNP in the evaluation and triage of ED patients with acute dyspnea (4) Click to enlarge »

In primary care, NT-proBNP is particularly useful to guide referral of symptomatic chronic HF to specialist care because it excludes suspected left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Compared with NT-proBNP values in patients with acute HF, lower values are expected in ambulatory chronic HF patients. International guidelines recommend a single low cut-off of 125pg/mL to rule out HF for patients presenting with non-acute symptoms. However peer-reviewed literature supports the use of age-dependent cut-offs to adjust for loss of specificity in such settings(5).

McMurray JJ, Adamopoulos S, Anker SD, et al.; ESC Committee for Practice Guidelines. ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure 2012: The Task Force for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute and Chronic Heart Failure 2012 of the European Society of Cardiology. Developed in collaboration with the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC. Eur Heart J. 2012;33:1787-847